New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
THE 81. JOHNLAND FARM
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF 1T.


COAL FOR THE BROOKLYN DEPA RTMENT OF CHARI-
TIEs-MKANEs VIEWS on REPORTS.
The Assembly Committee yesterday devoted the early
part of Its session toward examining the alleged mscon
duct OF certain public coal contractors and then took up
the St Johnland farm purchase. upon which so many
charges of corruption have been based.
Henry l.. Townsend, who had the contract
to supply the Department OF Charities with COAL
was recalled the first witness In
Mr. Parsonss questions. he said that he mad
known Commissioner Ray for many years lie denied
that had received any inside information as to
the time of advertising bids Hc unwilling to make
public the OF the persons from whom he obtained
supplies TO carry his contracts but said that he was
perfectly willing to tell the committee who they WERE
From August 1855, to August 1856 he furnished 1000
tons of COAL though lie owned yard or cart.
lie paid for $500 tons. but lie had no
bills to show how many tons he paid FOR.
He had any Of the coal weighed having per-
feet confidence in Mr. Hicks, the storekeeper OF the de-
partment. In 1855 he bought coal from T. o. Nielsen *
In 1856 from Frederick A. Potts Co. Under the
of Aug 1856, he had delivered up to JAM 1887
800 OF the 5000 called for Being unable to
complete his contract account of the strike. the Com
mssoners bought 800 tons against his contract at SO
ton. lie had agreed to deliver the coal at 81 9S ton
The Commissioners, he said, had never called
him TO account for the nonfulflment
OF his and he had spoken with his surctcs
Michael j. Dady and Robert Payne. about the matter
that he had been short in all his contracts last year
Daniel Toa, chief clerk and secretary OF the Charities
Board called lie said that he had held his po
on 1851 and that lie made up the proposals from
the OF goods used in previous years Mr. Par
asked II it fact that goods placed IN the
proposals that not used by the department The
witness replied that at times he had noticed that
larger quantities OF goods called for than
needed In the department, but examination lie
found this was often due TO Typographical error In
printed reports lie had these corrected Since
he had entered the department he had never known
dishonest man To be connected with IT, contractor, he
said. might obtain contract fraudulcnty. This could
be done hy collision with the storekceper the engineer
the head Of any department Mr. Toa had, he asserted,
who had dcfaultcd was one Walsh meat contractor
lie took the contract at low figure; meat
went M AMI he threw up the contract His
sretcs were Robert Furey and Mr. Kngsland. who we're
sued by the department. but the case was compromised
Walter H. Nelson. OF Nelson sons. coal dealers SAID
that arrangement had been made between his irn ana
Mr. Townsend by which the contractor Ia get 500
and twenty-five tons OF coal for which he was to assign
the contract had secured in lssG was - 90 at the
county buildings and - 20 at tho Penitentary He
thought Iownsends prices too low Tor MIN 10 make"
profit. ,,-. .,...,.
OF thc ~ lohlaid farm ny Gazing lHW"u ae., Mo
has been clerk OF the Board Of Supervisors for twenty-five
years more. lie said that committee had been aP
pointed in lsS5 10 investigate rumor- Of corruption IN
connection with the purchase oi the property pht ha
never made report Pooh BAN Mckane was CHAIR
man OF this committee Then sergeant John ], sheri,
dan OF the Twelfth Precinct one OF those who sold lana
Farm. called He proved 20 be the most obstinate
OF the day His farm, he said consisted o thirty
six acres with house H. Thomas l. smith Offered
him - 900 for H. but lie succeeded In getting $1,000
from Commissioned Reeve He received two checks Ia
payment 49, 800 and another 500. The larger
hc deposited tie savings bank, but he refused to
tell what he did with the other except Ia convey
the impression that he had given 1t t. Mr.
Smith ON being asked " this Inference
was correct he became indignant and declared mat he
would give Information the subject and carried out
th. determination despite the threat, OF the committee
EX-A-scmbY mau Lawrence j. I0rfncy, OF The county
Trcasnrcrs occ testified the deeds ~ property and
was followed Tie stand by william g. Cook, formerly
counsel Of the Board of supervisors, who drew Up me
deeds OF the County Farm lie SAID that he
was paid by fees that lie know Thomas
L. Smith but did not Nh sheridan
receive the checks for his property.
Supervisor Nckane was recalled nni n'kel ABOUT ~"
nycsiigating committee of which hc chairman. lie
declared HAT had Investigated the lum1g., bat ioiuI
them 10 De without foundation.
stand how TIE -Aiion ccs-" - NW' To tAo u" ~
Of Supervisors have sometimes some ihu-ai 10 Trpp n
Nc.glou- o. nat 30 d am "" goo if"lt 10 i.r mater "
ourhf can't l,t ltf thu- aud f'.nt % ihtfH"t
bg letters 100 some 81 The papers
that there - whit" wsin@ fcp"I An '~' ~ Oh" i''''
why diut report ,,
Dc mind whether r 90 make port cog whether You
made report evun.tafug arN body. whether i~ OPERATION
referred he washing or not Al don't mink We
could have reported anything bIf wax was AhpFu
Some. Doc sad. tApI-i money udl hfru u-f hHl l''h
ing wrorg - light INC committee adjourned uh-
III tomorrow morning